Preview: PFL 1 2024

Women’s Flyweight
Liz Carmouche (20-7) vs Juliana Velasquez (12-2)

Carmouche enters the newly formed PFL women’s flyweight tournament after an undefeated three-year stint in Bellator. Carmouche has been at the top of the sport for most of her 14-year career, but she’s seemingly gotten better with age. The San Diego-bred “Girl-Rilla” has stopped her last five opponents and shows little signs of being slowed down in the PFL.

Carmouche’s heavy wrestling style is beautifully complemented by her improved kickboxing skills. She can hurt you with punches, kicks or knees, but she will be disappointed to be without her notorious elbows this season.

Carmouche has the deepest resume of the entire women’s flyweight roster. From Strikeforce to Invicta Fighting Championships, to the Ultimate Fighting Championship and finally to Bellator, Carmouche has tussled with the best throughout her entire career. She can adapt to different styles and has shown that she can adjust mid-fight. Her experience and pedigree make her an early favorite to win the whole thing.

Velasquez has only lost to one person. Unfortunately for Velasquez, that’s exactly who she’s fighting. Velasquez claimed the Bellator flyweight title in only 11 fights. The Team Nogueira champion was a force and looked destined for a long reign before meeting Carmouche at Bellator 278.

Velasquez dropped Carmouche and made her look silly at times on the feet but had no answers when Carmouche took her to the mat in the fourth round. Trapped in a crucifix, Velasquez was saved from Carmouche’s elbows during the TKO loss.

When the two ran it back eight months later, Carmouche defended the title in clear fashion with an armbar in the second round. Will she win the third fight so easily, though? Carmouche is the better fighter in the clinch and on the ground, but Velasquez’s hands could be a factor. How much of a factor? Probably not enough to stop Carmouche from submitting her again.

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Delija vs. Moldavsky
Goltsov vs. Vassell
Carmouche vs. Velasquez
Golm vs. James
The Prelims